If Life is Tough for You Right Now ...

So much going on in our world.  We can easily be filled with anxiety, stress and pain depending on the cards life has dealt us over the past many months.  I want to say that you can make it and God wants to help.  There's a light at the end of the tunnel.  Typically, when life throws us curve balls we have a tendency to isolate ourselves and to retreat into an inner world of discouragement, hurt and self reliance.  Rather than responding to this natural inclination, I want to encourage you to ...

1. Cling to your values: when life is tough we see who we really are.  If life is currently great, we can mask our true nature.  But when life gets ugly, our sinful nature reveals itself.  Fight those tendencies and cling to purity and values.  Let sour situations make you sweeter.  Forgive yourself, everyone fails.  Pick yourself up and stay strong.

2. Cling to Others: if life is tough, then more than ever we must cling to those around us we love.  Take extra time for quality time.  If someone you care about has hurt you, do your best to restore the relationship and be sure to forgive from your heart (the same way God has forgiven you for your sins against him).  Life is too short to have broken relationships with others.  Fix what you can.  Be forgiving.  Live at peace as much as it depends on you.  Lean on the ones you love right now.

3. Cling to God: a past Minnesota governor, who didn't make us proud, once said that religion is a crutch for the weak.  Saying "clinging to God" is a crutch for weak people is like saying a football player shouldn't and doesn't need his coach on the sidelines seeing the big picture and suggesting the plays.  It may seem great to depend on ourselves, but the reality is that we will do life far worse that way (and never win the playoffs).  So many Scriptures proclaim God is closest to the brokenhearted and needy.  Need God?  If so, He's closer to you now than ever!  Maybe take some time for prayer and contemplation and Bible reading and ask God to comfort you, heal you and give you guidance for whatever you're facing.